Compare towns
Baldwin vs Jackson vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Baldwin has the oldest population (median age 50.6).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Waldo has the shortest commute (20 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Baldwin | Jackson | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,170Highest |
567Lowest |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.3%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
+11.3%Highest ME: +2.6% |
+4.3% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±4.6Highest 13% above ME |
37.7±5.8 16% below ME |
37.5±9.6Lowest 16% below ME |
| Kids under 18 | 12.1%±3Lowest ME: 18.1% |
17.1%±4.3 ME: 18.1% |
20.2%±4.5Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.7%±3.5Highest ME: 22.4% |
17.5%±4.7 ME: 22.4% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
41.9%Highest ME: 36.2% |
36.4% ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.2Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest ME: 5.8% |
1.8%±1 ME: 5.8% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,045±$8kLowest 9% below ME |
$75,167±$19kHighest about the ME average |
$71,458±$21k 4% below ME |
| Jackson and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $263,200±$38kHighest 11% below ME |
$231,500±$16k 22% below ME |
$208,000±$41kLowest 30% below ME |
| Baldwin and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $629±$12Lowest 45% below ME |
$1,150±$691Highest about the ME average |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,540 16% below ME |
$2,651Highest 13% below ME |
$1,623Lowest 47% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±42.9 ME: 48.4% |
6.3%±60.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
74.1%±36.3Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Waldo and Baldwin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
13.8%Highest ME: 10.7% |
10.4% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest ME: 74.3% |
78.6%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
84.6% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 2 yrs newer than ME |
1993Highest 16 yrs newer than ME |
1988 11 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 32% above ME |
35 minHighest 41% above ME |
20 minLowest 20% below ME |
| Work from home | 8.8%±4.8Lowest ME: 15.9% |
15.3%±6.5 ME: 15.9% |
15.6%±4.2Highest ME: 15.9% |
| Waldo and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| School district | — | — | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.